There could be many reasons why your dog won’t look you in the eye. It could be that they are afraid or feel guilty about something. Or, it could simply mean that they don’t understand what you want from them. Whatever the reason, this is an important behavior to pay attention to because it can give you clues about how your dog is feeling and what they may need from you.
your dog is too focused on something else to look you in the eye
It’s not that your dog is being rude. It’s just that he has a lot of priorities, and you aren’t at the top of the list right now. Dogs are very visual animals and they look where they think they will find something interesting. If there are squirrels outside or a new chew toy, they may not be able to resist looking away from you.
One way to encourage your dog to look at you is by determining what his favorite treat is (cheese and jerky usually work well for most dogs) and then holding it up so he can see it. You want him to make eye contact with you before giving him the treat. This simple trick makes it clear that you are an excellent source of things like treats and belly rubs, so he should pay attention when you speak to him!
your dog isnt feeling well and doesnt want to look at anyone
When a dog is feeling ill, he may not want to look anyone in the eye because of the way dogs communicate. Dogs generally make eye contact when they are showing deference to another dog or person. By avoiding eye contact, your dog may be trying to avoid appearing weak and vulnerable. Additionally, it’s possible that your dog doesn’t want you to know that he is sick so that he can avoid punishment for being sick.
Being the awesome pet parent that you are, you probably probably know when your pup is under the weather. But if your four-legged friend has been displaying some of these avoidance behaviors—not looking at people or other pets in the eye, not playing with his favorite toys or treats—he may just be feeling a little out of sorts!
your dog is afraid of making eye contact and getting punished
If your dog is afraid of making eye contact, it’s likely that your dog has learned that there are negative consequences for looking into human’s eyes. In order for dogs to get along in a human home, it’s important that they learn early on that humans don’t appreciate direct eye contact (as you probably know from reading the information above). If a dog hasn’t yet learned to break direct eye contact when you look at him or her, it could lead the dog to become afraid of making eye contact in general.
If your pup has already experienced negative consequences from making eye contact with people, then he or she may be having difficulty understanding why they shouldn’t make direct eye contact with anyone (especially you) because they’ve been punished for doing so in the past.
your dog thinks it could cause a fight with another dog
He may not be looking you in the eye because he doesn’t want to give an aggressive signal. Eye contact can be a sign of aggression. Dogs tend to stare more at other dogs than people, but if a dog is staring at you, he could be trying to challenge or intimidate you. The best bet is to avoid staring into your dog’s eyes, especially if your dog looks uncomfortable.
There are lots of reasons a dog may not look you in the eye
There are lots of reasons your dog may not look you in the eye. He may be nervous, afraid of making eye contact and getting punished, worried he could cause a fight with another dog, or simply too focused on something else to spare the attention to look you in the eye. If your dog normally looks you in the eye but has suddenly started breaking contact, it could also mean that he doesn’t feel well. Check his health by looking for signs such as dull coat, stinky breath, or weight loss. See a vet if you suspect something is wrong.
If nothing seems off health-wise and your dog’s behavior hasn’t changed otherwise, there’s no need to worry about your pup’s aversion to looking into your eyes. Look away from him when he’s approaching and reward him when he makes contact with his own gaze and when he looks away from yours. After a few training sessions this should lead to more mutual gazing between the two of you!
FAQs
There could be a number of reasons why your dog won’t look you in the eye. It could be that he’s feeling submissive and is averting his gaze as a sign of respect. Alternatively, it might me that he’s feeling guilty about something or is afraid of being scolded. If your dog is generally healthy and well-behaved, there’s likely no cause for concern. However, if you’re concerned about your dog’s behavior, it’s best to consult with a veterinarian or professional trainer for help.
There’s no definitive answer to this question, as every dog is different. However, it’s generally believed that dogs avoid eye contact because they’re trying to avoid appearing aggressive. In the wild, staring directly at another animal can be seen as a challenge or a threat, so dogs may have adopted this behavior in order to prevent confrontations with other animals (or humans). Additionally, some experts believe that since dogs are highly social creatures, averting their gaze may be a sign of respect or submission.